KPSC scam candidates taken to resorts, provided with Q&A: ED

Karnataka Public Service Commission recruitment process was manipulated through an organised mechanism to generate proceeds of crime, ED said

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday claimed that in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) paper leak case, candidates for the veterinary officers' exam were taken to resorts/Airbnb a day before the exam, provided test papers and their answer sheets, all for Rs 40 lakh per candidate. Two days ago, the agency had arrested KPSC ex-chairman Shivashankarappa and its member B V Geetha. Giving details of its investigation into alleged corruption in Karnataka PSC, the agency said Gyanendra Gangwar, the arrested IAS officer who was controller of examinations at KPSC, was in custody of confidential examination material and had leaked them to Geetha. The ED said an organised syndicate paid bribes to officials from top to bottom. The ED's probe by its Bengaluru unit is based on multiple FIRs registered by the police at Vidhana Soudha police station in the case of recruitment of 400 veterinary officers. "Evidence gathered so far has revealed an organised mechanism for generation of proceeds of crime through manipulation of the KPSC recruitment process. KPSC officials leaked question papers and candidate specific answer keys," the ED added. ED searched the premises of former Shivashankarappa and Geetha on Oct 6, which was followed by their arrest. "The searches resulted in seizure of blank signed cheques of Rs 80 lakh, along with blank signed promissory notes, from one of the successful candidates," the ED said. The agency has traced at least 10 successful candidates who were allegedly taken to a resort/Airbnb villa on the outskirts of Bengaluru a day before the examination, where they were provided with a question paper and correct answer options and made to practice/memorise them.

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According to the ED, the question paper (marked with correct answers) containing 80 questions was leaked by Gangwar through his close associate, Basavaraj Kannale, to these 10 candidates. "Basavaraj Kannale has collected bribe money amounting to Rs 40-50 lakh from each candidate, in consideration of facilitating their final selection in the veterinary officers' recruitment exam," ED said. Gangwar and Kannale were arrested on Sept 17-18 and sent to ED custody for 14 days. "During ED custody, Gangwar disclosed crucial information relating to irregularities in conducting various KPSC recruitment exams," ED added.

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